William boueive



(No Model.)

. W. BOURKE.

ADJUSTABLE BUTTON.

N0. 315L858. 1 A v Patented May 26, 1885.

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UNlThD STaTns PATENT @rrrc XVILLIAM BOURKE, OF BROOKLYN, NEXV YORK.

ADJUSTABLE BUTTON.

SPIZGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,858, dated May 26, 1885.

Application filed August 8, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM BOURKE, of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Buttons, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My prescntinvcntion has relation to buttons wherein the base-piece or shoe and the top piece are made movable with respect to each othento facilitate insertion in or removal from the button-hole, and particularly to that class wherein the top and base are hinged together through the medium of a shank. These buttons are applicable in cuffs, collars, and other sitnations.

The object of this invention is to improve the means employed for hinging the two main parts of the button, and also the manner of applying the spring by which the ,movable part is held in either the open or closed position to which it may be adjusted, rendering all the movements easy, smooth, and accurate, making the parts sol id an d little liable to wear, compact, and easy to construct and assemble for use.

To accomplish this, my improvements involve certain novel and useful peculiarities of construction, relative arrangements or combinations of parts, and details of manufacture, all of which will beherein first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the top part of the button with the base or shoe detached. showing edge of the shank, and Fig. 2 a similar view showing the face of the shank. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the completed button, showing the base-piece turned up, and Fig. at is a similar view showing the base-piece turned down. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the completed button with the shoe turned up or across the shank, and Fig. 6 a similar view showing the shoe turned down. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig.

5, except that the spring-plate is represented as being covered by a separate cap-plate; and Fig. Sis a view similar to Fig. 6,with like exceptions.

In all these figures like letters of reference,

wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts.

Ihavc shown the base-piece as the part hinged upon the shank, and this is the pre ferred construction, but obviously the top might be hinged, if preferred, or one or both parts hinged, as when the improvements are applied upon or in connection with links, (commonly known as link-buttons or cufflinks) Arepresents the top of the button, which may be of any construction, and B the shank secured thereto. The lower part of theshank is inclined with respect to the upper part, as plainly shown in Fig. 1, the two parts of the shank forming an angle with each other of degree proper to admit the hinged part to occupy a position substantially in the prolongation of the straightpart of the shank when the base-piece is turned down, as shown in Figs. 4, 6, and 8; but the manner of constructing and locating the hinge, as well as the spring, might also be applied in case the shank were made straight throughout its length.

0 is the bottom or exterior plate of the shoe or base piece or movable part. Upon the inner surface of this plate are soldered or otherwise securely fixed two inwardly-projecting lugs, to a, which hold thehinge-pin oraxis I). These logs might be formed of a portion of the material of the plate, if desired. The shank is fitted to enter between these lugs, and is perforated, as at c, for the reception of the hingepin. This perforation, as will be seen, is lo cated very near the lower extremity of the shank, and when the hinge is completed by the proper adjustment of the pin the hingeaxis is located as near as possible to the bottom of the shoe, and this enables me to make the shoe of slight depth, so that it will readily pass through the button-hole. \Vhen the inclined shank is employed, the lugs a a are afiixed to the bottom plate,at oneside of the center thereof, so that when the shoe is turned down it will rest in the position indicated in Figs. 4, 6, and S, in the prolongation of the straight partof the shank, lcavin g ample room between the edge of the shoe and the lower part of the button-top for the accommodation of the material of the cuff or other article.

D is a spring-plate, affixed to the exterior plate of the shoe or movable part, having a tongue, (Z, which passes through a slot or opening in the shank and bears down upon the lower margin thereof, in close proximity to the hingeaxis, so as to hold the shoe in any position to which it may be adjusted. This spring-plate is preferably made of steel, and when, as in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, it forms the cap-plate of the shoe or movable part it may be polished or finished in any way. \Vhen it is desired to employ aseparate cap-plate, as at D, Figs. 7 and 8, thespring-plate islocated beneath the cap-plate, as shown,and the latter is suitably slotted, as at e, to admit of the requisite movements of the movable part on the shank.

The button so made is of few and simple parts, all easy to construct and assemble, and the special improvements are well calculated to answer the purpose or object of the invention, as previously stated.

I make no claim herein to the mere hinging of one part of the button upon its shank; but,

Having now fully described my invention, what I do claim as new herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a button of the character herein set forth, the shank perforated at its lower extremity, the lugs secured upon the inner face of the exterior plate of the movable part, and located at one side of the center thereof, a

hinge pin or axis connecting the lugs and shank,a spring bearing in the slotin the shank, and a slotted covering-plate, the same being combined substantially as shown and described.

2. In a button of the character herein set forth, the shank connected with the exterior plate of the movable part by a hinge-joint, and a spring located in said movablepart,connected with said exterior plate, andbearing upon the shank at a point above and in close proximity to the hinge-axis, these parts being combined and arranged substantially as shown and described.

3. In a button of the character herein set forth, the shank perforated at its lower extremity, the exterior plate of the movable part,

"the lugs secured upon the inner surface of the spring-plate, all combined and arranged 

